AD Revisits: Athletes at Home

Magic Johnson

Basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson and his wife, Cookie, wanted a laid-back, welcoming feel for their family’s seaside getaway in Southern California. Designer Michael Kreiss chose off-white sofas and blue accents for the family room and adjacent terrace to echo the sand and sea just beyond. (December 2009)

Photo: Mary E. Nichols

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Magic Johnson

For the living room—the main hangout for the couple’s two children—Kreiss picked an inviting sofa and chaise that are perfect for playing video games and are also capable of accommodating Magic’s six-foot-nine-inch frame.

Photo: Mary E. Nichols

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Magic Johnson

The master bedroom’s terrace reflects the couple’s love of indoor-outdoor living, and boasts breathtaking views of the Pacific.

Photo: Mary E. Nichols

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Mike Piazza

Mike Piazza

Designer Alexandra Karram took many of her design cues from the tools of Piazza’s trade; browns and whites are accented with pops of red—inspired by the colors of a baseball and mitt—throughout the dining area. The table’s centerpiece is a 2001 sculpture from Dale Chihuly’s “Seaforms” series.

Photo: Steven Brooke

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Mike Piazza

Piazza, who wore number 31 as catcher for the New York Mets for many years, selected the residence in part because it was on the 31st floor of the high-rise. Karram used streamlined furnishings for the 3,100-square-foot space to keep the emphasis on the expansive vistas.

Photo: Steven Brooke

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C. C. Sabathia

When all-star pitcher C. C. Sabathia was traded to the New York Yankees in 2009, he moved with his wife, Amber, their four children, and dog, Cherry, from their California home base to a stately new residence in Alpine, New Jersey, which was designed by architect James Paragano. (November 2010)

Photo: Durston Saylor

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C. C. Sabathia

Paragano and decorator Martin P. Mitchell outfitted the house with a pool, a basement recreation room, and an indoor basketball court to ensure that the athletic family was entertained year-round.

Photo: Durston Saylor

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C. C. Sabathia

The study is where the couple hold meetings for their charity, PitCCh In Foundation, which encourages inner-city kids to play sports and stay in school. It also contains Sabathia’s many trophies, including his 2007 American League Cy Young award.

Photo: Durston Saylor

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Greg Norman

Greg Norman found his golfer’s paradise on eight spectacular acres of Jupiter Island, Florida, where, with the help of Dailey Janssen Architects, he and his then-wife, Laura, brought a historic estate back to life. (March 2004)

Photo: Kim Sargent

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Greg Norman

A hallway in the 1902 home, dubbed Tranquility, is lined with trophies the Australian golfer earned from his 86 professional victories, including a Claret Jug from one of his two British Open wins, on the table at right.

Photo: Kim Sargent

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Greg Norman

Laura appreciated the home’s style, atypical to South Florida, and its history. The kitchen features a stone archway, a custom-made pine table, and rustic tile floors.

Photo: Kim Sargent

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Hines Ward

“I spent years clipping pictures from magazines,” explains two-time Super Bowl champion Hines Ward of the inspiration for his Atlanta home, which was designed by architect David Grace. Ward is seen here in his trophy room, which is painted in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ signature black-and-gold color palette. (November 2010)

Photo: Jeff Herr

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Hines Ward

Interior decorator Ann Davis helped the former wide receiver create an inviting space for watching sports and entertaining friends. The media room includes a bar area with a built-in wine refrigerator and several televisions.

Photo: Jeff Herr

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Hines Ward

The billiards and trophy rooms just beyond are decorated with rich tones that carry throughout the home. The football jerseys belong to Hall of Famers, says Ward. “Guys I’ve played and become friends with, and old-timers I’ve learned from.”

Photo: Jeff Herr

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Jeg Coughlin Jr.

A former dairy farm was the ideal setting for race-car driver Jeg Coughlin Jr.’s barn-inspired Ohio residence. The home was designed by architect George Acock and sits on 135 bucolic acres. (March 2007)

Photo: Tony Soluri

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Jeg Coughlin Jr.

Interior decorator John Barman chose low-slung, minimalist furnishings for the living room so as not to compete with the soaring limestone-clad architecture. The room’s bay window, which Barman likens to a glass silo, is fitted with a curved leather sofa.

Photo: Tony Soluri

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Jeg Coughlin Jr.

Coughlin’s many drag-racing awards line the walls of his game room/study, which is set just outside the home’s wine cellar.

Photo: Tony Soluri

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Ricky Carmichael

Motocross racer Ricky Carmichael stands beside some of his many trophies in the Tallahassee, Florida, home he shares with his wife, Ursula. Architect Bradley C. Touchstone designed the nearly 10,000-square-foot residence. (November 2010)

Photo: Ken Hayden

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Ricky Carmichael

On the house’s lower-level landing, Carmichael’s motorcycles are displayed against a double-height wall connecting the area to the living spaces above. The adjacent billiards room/bar area also highlight a myriad of trophies, riding gear, and framed magazine covers.

Photo: Ken Hayden

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Ricky Carmichael

The pool terrace features a pergola, a waterfall, and, perched high atop the rock formation, an unexpected sight: a goat statue. The sculpture references one of Carmichael’s nicknames, G.O.A.T., or Greatest of All Time.

Photo: Ken Hayden

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Tom Brady

The eco-conscious Los Angeles home of Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen and her husband, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, is an elegant interpretation of old-world architecture. (October 2013)

Photo: Roger Davies

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Tom Brady

Brady’s home gym was designed by the Inglewood, California–based firm Out-Fit and features custom-made wrought-iron monkey bars.

Photo: Roger Davies

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Tom Brady

Hand-poured glass tiles line the expansive pool, and the deck is laid with reclaimed oak. The cabana offers the power couple a place to relax with their young family.